OM fires still burn for Deschamps

Didier Deschamps captained Olympique de Marseille to victory in the first edition of the UEFA Champions League in 1992/93 and also led AS Monaco FC to the final in 2003/04. Now back at the helm of OM, the 41-year-old looked back over his greatest achievements in the competition and discussed his return to the Stade Vélodrome.

Do you think the French public focus too much on Marseille's UEFA Champions League triumph?

Didier Deschamps: It's still in people's minds as the best memory for a certain generation. The most recent generation haven't experienced that, so they have to look at pictures or watch television footage. It's something they're really missing, because if they listen to their parents or older people talking about that period, which was an extraordinary time, it's the last big win – the last title that Marseille won, in fact.

Does it almost cast a shadow?

Deschamps: The two eras are completely different. At that time, Marseille had already been in two Champions League finals and you had the best French players along with some very good foreigners. I think when you compare Marseille to the teams they came up against then, Marseille were often superior. Now, as the years have passed, a gap has opened up with certain big European clubs who've become giants. There's such a big financial difference between Marseille and those big foreign clubs that getting to another Champions League final at the moment is a dream and one that will be very hard to realise.

What has been the best thing about returning to Marseille? Being back on familiar ground?

Deschamps: Yes, that's the main thing, because I'd had two years to build up my strength, see a lot more of my family and watch a lot of football as part of the media. My passion is to be on the pitch or on the touchline, though, and two years is a long time. The opportunity arose, Marseille needed me and I was looking for a club where I had a chance of winning something. The fact that Marseille were in the Champions League and had a presence on the international scene made them even more attractive.

What did winning the competition with Marseille mean?

Deschamps: At the time, it was the first big win for a French club on the international scene and it was the best. It opened the door to a lot of Frenchmen who played for the team, because the majority left afterwards to join Italian or English clubs. There are a lot of people in Europe who still follow Marseille and a lot of that is down to that victory.

As coach, do you feel you have more credit with the Marseille fans, or is there extra pressure because of who you are?

Deschamps: Both, because people expect a lot of me and a lot of people think that because I won it as a player, then of course I should win it as a manager. Unfortunately it's not that simple. Coming back gives me credibility with the people here and the supporters, because they know what I did as a player in my four or so years. After that, as with any manager, they're expecting results.

You also reached the final with Monaco...

Deschamps: It ended badly, but in hindsight we had a unique opportunity to become European champions. It wasn't in the script at all – the club wasn't ready for it. Nor was the team; I had three or four players who'd experienced the Champions League, while for the others it was the first time. Beyond the results, it was an amazing adventure for us as people, because we weren't exactly one of the strongest or the most powerful European clubs. There was a moment when the players realised that nothing was impossible; there was amazing team spirit and a lot of quality too, because you can't go far without that.

Can Marseille qualify from their group?

Deschamps: I know the potential the individual players have and at the moment it's more about individual quality as we're not experienced enough as a team yet. We're a young team and I mean young in the sense of not having played many games together. We've also had some major injuries and suspensions, but we don't have much time. Champions League games come around very quickly, so we'll know soon whether we deserve to progress or not.